Shade and blind device



Nov. 27, 1962 R. E. TABER 3,065,785

SHADE AND BLIND DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 [/0 ,7 3

IN V EN TOR. E0555 6 7256142,

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 27, 1962 R. E. TABER SHADE AND BLIND DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1961 Fig.11 m Fig.1lu

INVENTOR. RUSSELL E. TABER,

WM M 71: 3

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent ()fitice 3,%5,785 Patented Nov. 27, 1952 3,065,785 SHADE AND BLIND DEVICE Russell E. Taber, 510 Dogwood Valley Drive NE, Atlanta, Ga. Filed Dec. 15', 196i, Ser. No. 161,333 15 Claims. (El. 168I) My invention relates to an adjustable window shade device and the like, and more particularly to such a device which is adjustable with regard to the passage of light, air and heat. This application is a continuationin-part of my copending application, Serial No. 41,085, filed July 6, 1960, now abandoned.

Concurrently available window shades are opaque, and are only adjustable up and down; they cannot regulate or reduce the passage of light without obstructing the flow of air. On the other hand, the venetian blind type device is adjustable, but it is also heavy, cumbersome, expensive, and hard to clean. I have now invented a device similar to the ordinary window shade but with a unique method of regulating the passage of light, air and heat.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the instant invention to provide a device similar to a common window shade, awning, room divider and the like, which permits a unique control over the passage of light, air and heat.

Another object of my invention is the provision of such an adjustable device of the character described, which is very light in weight and simple in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable device of the character described, which is easy to clean and maintain without special tools.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of such a device which may be manufactured and sold easily and inexpensively.

These and other objects of my invention, which will be pointed out in more detail he einafter, or will be apparent to the worker skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now described an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view showing an adjustable window shade device in a conventional window frame.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the shade in its expanded position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the shade in its expanded position.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the shade expanded in a reverse position.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 6 is a rear view showing the reversing roller.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary front View showing a modification of my invention.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing the means for holding the shade in the expanded position.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but showing the bearing bracket at the other end of the window opening.

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view through a window opening or the like showing a modification of the inventlon.

FIGURE 11a is a view similar to FIGURE 11 showing the shade device in extended condition.

FIGURE 12 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the adaptation of the device to use as a room divider.

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional View through a window opening or the like, showing how the device may be adapted to use as an awning.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through a window shade having means for deflecting rain and direct rays of the sun.

FIGURE 14a is a view similar to FIGURE 14 showing the device in its extended condition.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention, I provide a window shade having alternating rows of horizontal die cut slits. When the shade is expanded, the slits become a series of diamond shaped openings, and the segments of the shade between the slits assume an angular position which is adapted to regulate the passage of light, air or heat.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 I have shown an ordinary window frame 10 with mounting brackets II and I2 to hold a conventional ratchet spring action window shade roller 13).

The basic element of the invention is the shade I4 itself, which is of suificient size to cover the desired window or other opening. As seen in FIGURE 1 the shade I4 is provided with rows of horizontal slits I5; alternating rows are staggered so that the center of any given slit is midway between the centers of the two slits above and below it. The size and distance between the slits can of course be varied to suit individual tastes, but I have found that a relationship consisting of two inch slits spaced inches apart horizontally, and with the rows spaced A1 inch apart vertically is very satisfactory.

The top of this shade I4 is fastened by stapling or any other satisfactory means to the window shade roller 13; a batten I6 formed from a tinned strip or any other suitable rigid member is fastened to the bottom of the shade. In the embodiment shown in FIGURES l and 9, a ribbon I7 of flexible plastic or other material substantially longer than the shade I4 is fastened to the center of the roller I3, and is wound up on the roller with the shade I4. The ribbon I7 is fastened at its other end to the batten I6 011 the side of the shade facing inward toward the operator. The extra length of the ribbon I7 will hang down and form a loop I7a. By pulling downward on the ribbon 17, the roller I3 may be operated without tensioning the shade I4, and thus the device can be operated as an ordinary window shade without causing the slits 15 to open.

To render the shade adjustable, means must be provided to fasten the bottom of the shade to the window sill. This may be accomplished by adding two J-shaped hooks I8 to the bottom member or sill of the window frame Iil. As seen in FIGURE 8, the batten I6 may be pulled down and engaged under these hooks, the top parts of which fit through the slits nearest the batten. These hooks act to hold the shade in the down position.

Adjustment may be accomplished as follows: With the shade pulled all the Way down, the batten In is engaged under the J-shaped hooks I3. By pulling downward slightly on the ribbon I7 the ratchet in the spring roller 13 is released, and the roller is allowed to place tension on the shade I4. As the tension is increased, the die cut slits 15 open into more or less diamond shaped apertures as seen in FIGURE 2. At the same time, as seen in FIGURE 3, the segments of the shade between the slits assume an angular position with relation to the plane of the shade. The angle can be increased to approximately and is a function of both the tension applied and the spacing between the slits.

The segments of the shade between the slits will assume a position substantially tangent to the roller at the point of departure therefrom, as the shade is unwound. This is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 3. Since the spring roller only unwinds in one direction, a reversing roller 19 is provided as shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 to provide further adjustments. The roller may be as long as the shade is wide, although under some circumstances, depending on the spacing and arrangement of the slits and the thickness of the shade, it may be much shorter. Its diameter is not critical. The roller 19 rotates on a. shaft 2t) which is fixedly mounted on the movable member 21. A fixed member 22. is mounted to the top of the window frame 10, and is formed as seen in FIGURES 5 and 6. The member 21 is hingedly secured to the fixed member 22; these members are of such a size that the roller 19 can be position directly beneath the spring roller I3. In the embodiment shown, a cord 23 is fastened to the member 21, led up and over the device, coming down on the side facing the operator, by means of a hole 24 and a pulley 25. To reverse the angle of the segments of the shade between the slits, the batten 16 must be unhooked and the shade re-rolled on the spring roller 13. Then by applying tension to the cord 23 thus positioning the reversing roller 19 directly under the spring roller 13, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 5, and pulling the shade down under slight tension by pulling on the batten 16 rather than the ribbon 17, the tangent of unrolling is reversed, and the segments will assume the angular position shown in FIGURE 4. It will be understood that a suitably formed cam plate or other member may be used to produce the necessary reverse curve.

It will now be clear that the shade 14 must be made of a material that will consistently return to the fiat condition, even after long periods of expansion. Due to the lack of plasticizers, I have found that the molecular structure of a polyester film such as .0075 inch Miylar by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. makes it uniquely capable of springing back to its fiat state when released, even though distorted under tension for days at a time. This film may be sprayed with a thin colored coat of alkyd resin enamel to make it decoratively attractive and translucent but still not transparent. It will be obvious that a myriad of other decorative treatments are possible. Since the shade always returns to the fiat condition, cleaning is no problem at all. The roller and shade are removed from the window frame, rolled out fiat, and either scrubbed or vacuumed.

To provide greater protection against the elements when the device is to be used outdoors, additional strips as shown at 26 in FIGURE 3 of a similar film of other material may be joined to the exterior side of the shade, so that in the fiat condition the slits 15 are completely covered. This of course prevents the segments from opening in the reversed position shown in FIGURE 4.

In FIGURE 7, I have shown a modification of my invention wherein the spring roller is eliminated and a plain roller 27 is provided in its place. This roller is journaled in brackets 28 fastened to the window frame. One of these brackets 28a (FIGURE may be an adjustable friction type bearing of known construction. At the other end of the roller there may be fixed a small serrated pulley 29; a bead chain 3%} may be looped over the pulley, so that a pulling force may be exerted on either end to rotate the roller in either direction. In this embodiment the roller 19 may be used as described above, and the shade pulled down by the batten to produce opening of the slits in the opposite direction. When the batten is hooked under the J-shaped hooks IS, the desired amount of tension can be created by pulling on the chain; the friction hearing may then be adjusted by the thumb screw 28!) to hold the blind in its expanded position.

In the device shown in FIGURES 1 to 10 inclusive, the: shade device is shown as being used with a roller. It will be clear that this is actually not necessary. For example, in FIGURE 11 I have shown a shade device of simplified construction. Here a window opening is represented at 39 and the shade device in its retracted or fiat state is again indicated at 1 In this instance the two ends of the member 14 are secured to rods of any desired configuration such as 31 at the top and 32 at the bottom. The device 14- will be preferably of a length to cover approximately of the vertical extent of the window opening in its retracted state. At 33 I have indicated a piece of non-slitted opaque fabric or other flexible material which is also secured to the lower supporting bar 32. The member 33 at its lower end may have a bar or the like at 34 to be retained in a suitable hook or the like at 35. The upper support 31 may be retained in a hook member 36.

In the condition of FIGURE 11, the window area is closed by the member 14 and the member 33. If now the bar 32 is pulled downwardly and engaged in the hook member 35, it will be seen that the fabric portion 33 will simply drape over the sill and the member 14 will be extended thereby opening up the louvers referred to heretofore. Once the slitted segments have been trained by initial expansion in the desired direction out of the plane or" the film, they will always open in the same direction each time the member 14 is extended. When the bar 32 is released from the hooks 35 the slits will close up because of the resilience of the polyester film.

In FIGURE 12 I have shown how the device of the present invention may be used to constitute a room divider by application to a conventional fioor-to-ceiling pole lamp. Such a typical lamp is indicated generally at 37. It comprises a tubular member having extensible foot members at 38 and 39 which may be adjusted to fix the standard between the floor and ceiling, the floor being indicated at 46 and the ceiling at 41. Such poles conventionally may be provided with lamps 42 and perhaps vases 43. A clamp member 44 adjacent the top of the pole 37 may have upper supporting means 45 secured thereto and one or more of the slitted polyester films may be secured thereto. The supports 45 of course extend laterally from the clamp 44 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and it will be clear that a relatively long and narrow slitted member may be secured on each side of the clamp 44 or a single wider such member may depend from the support 45.

The lower end of the slitted polyester film 14 is secured to a support 46 mounted on a clamp 47 provided with a thumb screw 48 whereby its vertical position on the rod 37 may be adjusted. As above described, the degree of extension of the polyester film 14 determines the extent of the openings therein.

In FIGURE 13 I have shown how a slitted polyester film 14 as above described may be used as an awning. Again a window opening is indicated at 30 and approximately at mid-height of the Window opening a U-frame 4-9 is provided which is pivotally mounted by means of brackets 50. A blind device 14 which is of sutficient length to extend in closed condition from the point at which it is fixed as at 51 to the top of the window frame to the cross member of the U-frame 49 at 52 is provided. In the condition shown in solid lines in FIGURE 13, the device acts as a conventional awning but such awning darkens a room considerably and interferes with air flow.

I, therefore, provide a. suitable core, tip or the like as at 53 and any suitable locking or clamping device diagrammatically indicated at 54, so that by pulling on the member 53 the device may be brought to the broken line position of FIGURE 13 in which the member 14 is extended to open up the slits as before.

In FIGURES 14 and 14a I have shown in greater detail the structure briefly referred to in connection with FIGURE 3. Here deflecting members 26 are secured by a suitable adhesive or the like as at 26a to the base polyester film just above each horizontal row of slits without additional strips overlapping the respective slits. This produces in the closed state a shingle-type of structure as seen in FIGURE 14 and when such a device is extended as shown in FIGURE 14a, the members 26 provide additional protection against rain and direct rays of sunlight.

It will of course be within the scope of the invention to provide side channels for guiding the edges of the shade 14 in association wih any of the embodiments described herein.

It will be understood, of course, that numerous modifications may be made in my invention without departing from its scope and spirit, and I do not intend to limit myself to the illustrations described.

Having now set forth my invention in certain exemplary embodiments, What I claim as new and what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A shade and blind device comprising a fiat, resilient sheet of polyester film characterized by the capability of springing back to its flat state when released from distorted stresses, said sheet having staggered rows of slits, said slits being parallel to opposed ends of said sheet, means for securing one of said ends whereby said sheet may be tensioned by pulling on the other of said ends, and means for securing said one end in tensioned position, said slits under tension opening into generally diamond shaped apertures, and the segments of said sheet between said slits assuming substantially parallel positions at an angle to the plane of said sheet, and said sheet returning to its flat state with said slits closed when the tension on said sheet is released.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein parallel strips of said material are secured to said flat resilient sheet overlapping said slits shingle-wise, whereby when said slits open into said apertures upon application of tension to said sheet, said strips extend out over said openings to shield them from rain.

3. A device according to claim 1, in combination with a standard of substantially greater length than said sheet in its untensioned condition, means adjacent the top of said standard for securing one end of said sheet, and means adjustable from the untensioned length of said sheet to a substantially greater length for securing the other end of said sheet in a desired condition of extension.

4. A device according to claim 1, in combination with a window opening and the like of substantially greater length than said polyester sheet in its untensioned condition, a sheet of opaque material secured to one end of said polyester sheet, said opaque sheet being of a length which, together with the length of said polyester sheet, is substantially equal to the length of said opening, means for securing the free end of said polyester sheet to one end of said opening, and means to secure selectively either the free end of said opaque sheet without tension on said polyester sheet, or the end of said polyester sheet to which said opaque sheet is secured, under tension, to the other end of said opening.

5. A device according to claim 1, in combination with a window opening, a U-shaped frame having its ends pivotally secured to the sides of said opening intermediate the length of said opening, said polyester sheet being secured at one end of said opening and being secured at its other end to the median portion of said frame, and being of a length in untensioned condition to assume an h awning-like position, means to pivot said frame to exert tension on said polyester sheet, and to secure said frame in a pivoted position exerting the desired degree of tension on said polyester sheet.

6. A shade and blind device comprising a cylindrical roller, a resilient curtain shade attached to said roller, said shade having staggered rows of slits, said slits being parallel to the axis of said roller, and means for applying tension on said shade transversely to the axis of said roller, whereby said slits open into generally diamond shaped apertures the segments of said shade between said slits assume substantially parallel positions at an angle to the plane of said shade corresponding to the tangent of unrolling.

7. The device claimed in claim 6, including means for rotating said roller without pulling on said shade.

8. The device claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for applying tension transversely to the axis of said roller comprises an adjustable friction bearing for said roller, means for detachably securing the free end of said shade in the extended position, and means for rotating said roller.

9. The device claimed in claim 7, including means for reversing the tangent of unrolling.

10. The device claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for reversing the tangent of unrolling comprises a reversing roller hingedly disposed in parallel relation to said roller and adapted to be positioned tangent to and directly beneath said roller.

11. A shade and blind device comprising a ratchet spring roller, a resilient curtain shade attached to said roller, said shade having staggered rows of slits, said slits being parallel to the axis of said roller, and means for detachably securing the free end of said shade in the extended position, whereby when said spring roller exerts tension on said shade transversely to the axis of said roller, said slits open into generally diamond shaped apertures and the segments of said shade between said slits assume substantially parallel positions at an angle to the plane of said shade corresponding to the tangent of unrolling.

12. The device claimed in claim 10, including means for unrolling said spring roller and shade Without exerting tension on said shade.

13. The device claimed in claim 12, wherein said means for unrolling said spring roller and shade without exerting tension on said shade comprises a pulling member fastened to the outer surface of said spring roller, said member being of slightly greater length than said shade.

14. The device claimed in claim 12, including means for reversing the tangent of unrolling.

15. The device claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for reversing the tangent of unrolling comprises a reversing roller hingedly disposed in parallel relation to said spring roller and adapted to be positioned tangent to and directly beneath said spring roller.

No references cited. 

